Clothes wringer



c. K. sKlNNER 2,216;404 cLoTHEs WRINGER Filed Jan. 27, 1938 Inventor: Z,Charles K. Skinner, zz D yI-Hs Attorney.

Patented Get. 1, 1940 CLOTHES WRINGEB Charles Kountze Skinner,Southport, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application 27, 1938, Serial No; 187,191

' (c1. ca -253) The present invention relates to clothes wringers of thetype suitable for use in conjunction with domestic washing machines.

In clothes wringers of this type it has been l customary' to have acontrol for the mechanism driving the rolls, adjusting mechanism foradjusting the pressure between' the rolls, and an emergency release forreleasing the pressure between the rolls. 'I'hese functions have. ingeneral, beenperformed by separate control members.

'Ihe object of my invention is to provide an improved construction andarrangemnt'in clothes wringers in which a single control member per- 1I.forms two or more of the functions enumerated above.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a front elevation, partly brokenaway, of .a `clothes wringer embodying my invention showing the parts intheir normal position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the top of thewringer after operation ofthe emergency release; Fig. 3 is a sectionalview taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan view `of thecentral portion of the control bar, partly in'section; and Fig. 5 is asectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig, 1.-

Referring to the drawing, I have shown my invention applied to a wringerhaving a frame comprising a bottom' member I and side stiles 2 and 3, ateach end thereof, between which are carried wringer rolls I and 5. Thelower wringer roll 4 is journaled in bearing blocks 6 which arestationary in the side stiles and the upper wringer roll 5 is journaledin slidable bearing blocks 1 which are slidable in the side stiles andare urged toward the lower roll by a leaf spring l.

l leaf spring is carried in the head l of a screw Il threaded in a nut II carried by the top frame member I2 of the wringer. The nut II has aange I3 which seats aga the under side of the top frame member I 'Iheflange I3 is pinned to a sleeve Il which loosely extends through anopening I5 in the top frame member and which has an integral head Iiwhich provt5 jects beyond the edges of the opening I5 on the upper sideof the top frame member I2. .With this construction the nut II isrotatably supported in the top frame member I2. By ro.- tation of thenut the screw I 0 is threaded into exerted by the spring 8 on thebearing blocks -1.

As shown in Fig, 1, the upper end of the side The.

stile 2 is provided with a hooked shaped portion I1 which extendsthrough an opening II in the ,Il 'top frame and provides a pivotalconnection for theileft end of the top frame. At the right end, the topframe is connected to the side stile 3 by means of a togglecomprising apair 4of links I9 pivoted at 20 on the outer walls of the side stile v3and pivoted at 2I on the inside of the anges l' of a channel-shaped link22. On the inside of the web 23 of the link 22 is secured a leaf spring2Q having a hooked end 25 which extends through an opening in the endwall 26 of the top frame I2. A leaf spring 21, likewise secured to 10the web 23, engages the inner side of the wall 26 and yieldably holdsthe hook 25 in place. The hook 25 provides a pivotal connection betweenthe upper end of the channel-shaped link 22 and the right-hand end ofthe top frame I2. Drain- 1I boards 21a and guards 2lb for the ends ofthe rolls are suitably supported on the wringer frame.

As shown in Fig. 3 the link 22 telescopes over the outer end of the sidestile 3 and the links I9 are arranged between the outer walls of the noside stiles and the inner side of the flanges of the link 22.

When the toggle comprising links I 9 and 22, is in its normal position,shown in Fig, 1, the pivot points 2li are outside or to the right of thecenter line connecting the pivot points 2I and 2l.

Itis obvious that the 'upward pressure exerted on the topl frame by theleaf spring 8 will ten'd to pivot thelink 22 in a clockwise direction,as viewed in Fig. 1, above its pivot point 2l and that 80 this "forcewill tend to hold the toggle links in the position shown in Fig. 1. Ifthe link,22 is 'plv-- oted in a counterclockwise direction from theposition shown in Fig. 1 until the pivot points 20 are inside, or to theleft, of the center line be- .as tween the pivot points 2I and 25, theupward force exerted on the top frame by leaf spring l causes the togglelinks Il and 22 tomove to the position shown in Fig. 2 'therebyreleasing the pressure between the wringer rolls. The links Il u' and 22can be returned to the position shown in Fig, 1 by exerting a downwardforce on the free end of the link 22. The toggle links I9 and 223 cantherefore function as an emergency release.

For operating the wringer, I have provided a control bar 28 which is ofchannel-shaped section with downwardly extending walls 28a. The controlbar is pivoted at its ends on pins 22 and ll, respectively, carried bycastings 3l and 32 fixed tothe top frame I2. The casting 32 has 50 anarcuate recess 33 (Fig. 3) on its under side 1in which is looselycarried an arcuate member M, the lower ends of which rest on flanges Ilat the upper` end of the link 22. 'I'he central i portion ofthe member24 rests on the top frame Il 70 adjusting the pressure exerted by thespring 8 on lao Iedges of the opening 5|.

|2. 'I'he member 34 is connected to the control bar 28 by a latch 36which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 53 extending across theside walls 28a of the control bar and is held in a central position byspacing sleeves 54 surrounding the pin. The latch is biased by a spring31 into engagement with a notch 38 in a tongue 39 on the upper side ofthe member 34. When the latch is in this position, pivotal movement ofthe control bar 28 in either direction will pivotally move the member 34causing one of its ends to exert a downward pressure on one of theflanges 35 of the link 22 and thereby causing the link 22 to pivot aboutthe hook 25. If this pivotal movement of this link' 22 is sufncientlygreat to move the pivot points 2| so that the pivot points 28 are to theleft of a center line connecting the pivot points 2l and 25 the pressurebetween the wringer rolls will be Areleased as described above. In thepresent construction the pivotal movement is limited by engagement ofthe control bar with stops 48V on the casting 32 so that the pressurebetween the rolls is not released while the latch engages the notch 38.As long as the pivot points 28 are to the right of a center linerconnecting the pivot points 2| and 25, the pressure of the spring 8tends to return the links I9 and 22 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and3. l

To prevent movement of the member 34 when the control bar 28 is pivoted,the operator must lift the latch 36 out of engagement with the slot 38.This is accomplishedby means of a handle which comprises a lever 4|which is slidable and rotatable in a bushing 42 pivotally supportedbetween the side walls 28a of the control bar' by means of screws 43extending loosely through the walls 28a and threaded into bosses 44 onthe bushing. The lever 4l extends through an elongated slot 4|a in thecontrol bar. It is biased upwardly by means of a coil spring 45 arrangedbetween the upper side of the bushing 42 and a washer 46 on the lever.Upward movement of the washer is limited by a pin 41. Upward `move mentof the lever 4| is limited by a washer 48 arranged between a pin 49 onthe lever and the lower side of -the bushing 42. y The lever 4| at itsupper end is provided with a knob 58. 'I'he bushing 42 extends looselythrough an opening 5| in the left end of the latch 36. Ears 52 on thebushing engage the upper side of the latch 36 at the With thisconstruction it is obvious that the lever 4| will normally be held inthe central position, shown in Fig. l, by the spring 31. By moving theknob 58 toward either end of the wringer the lever and the bushing 42will be pivoted about the screws 43 and this movement will cause theears 5 2 on the bushing to depress the left-hand end of thelatch 36,raising the right-hand end clear of the notch 38 against the pressure ofspring 31. This will disconnect the latch from the member 34 so that themember 34 will remain stationary while the control bar 28 is pivoted.

By pushing downward on the knob 58, the lever 4| may be moved downwarduntil a tongue 55 on the lower end thereof fits in a slot 56 in theupper surface of the head |6. In this position rotation of the knob' 50will cause the nut to be threaded up and down on the screw |8 therebythe wringer rolls. When the knob 58 is released, the spring 45 returnsthe lever 4| to the position illustrated in Fig. -1 in which the tongue55 is clear of the slot 56.

'Ihe pivotal movement of the control bar 28 is used to start and stopthe wringer driving mechanism which, for the purpose of illustration, isshown as a typical reversing mechanism comprising a driving pinion 51"adapted to be connected to a suitable driving shaft and oppositelydriven meshing gears 58 loose on a shaft 59 which is suitably connectedto the lower wringer roll 4. 'Ihe shaft 59 is suitably journaled in thewringer head 68. Between the gears 58 the shaft 59 is provided with asquared portion 6| on which is slidably mounted a clutch 62 having teethon opposite ends thereof which are adapted to engage complementarydepressions (not shown) in the gears 58 thereby selectively coupling theshaft A59 to one of the gears 58. The clutch is operated by' means of apin 64 which fits in a central groove 65 in the clutch. 'I'he pin iseccentrically carried on a shaft 66 journaled in an arm 61 on thewringer head. On the upper end of the shaft 66 is a pinion 68 whichmeshes with asegment gear 69 on one end 'of the lever 18 `pivoted at 1|on the wringer head. The other end 12 of the lever 18 loosely fits in anelongated slot 13 in a member 14 fixed to the control bar 28.

As the controlbar 28 is pivoted toward one side or the other -of thewringer the pin and slot connection between the member 14 and the lever10 causes the lever 18 to be pivoted about its pivot point 1|. By meansof the segment gear 69 and the pinion 68' the shaft 66 is therebyrotated causing the clutch to be moved along the squared portion 6| ofthe shaft 59 thereby controlling the driving connection to the wringer.

The parts are preferably arranged so that when the control bar is pulledtoward the operator, the clutch 62 is moved to the position causingrotation of the wringer rolls in the direction to wring material fromthe side facing the operator. When the control bar is in the neutralposition, shown in Figs. 1 and' 3, the clutch is in the neutralposition, as shown in Fig. 1 and the rolls are stationary.

To start the operation of the wringer the knob 58 is grasped and movedtoward either end of the wringer thus causing the lever A4| and thebushing 42 to pivot about the screws 43. This causes the ears 52 on thebushing 42 to depress the left end of the latch 36 lifting the right endof the latch clear of the notch 38. 'I'he knob 58 is then pulled towardthe operator thereby causing the control bar 28 to be pivoted toward theoperator and causing the clutch 62 to be shifted into engagement withthe proper gear 58 to cause the rolls to rotate in the direction towring from the side facing the operator. The control knob is thenreleased and the plunger 4| and bushing 42 are returned by the spring 31to a. central position with respect to the control bar 28. In thisposition the latch 36 is on one side of the tongue 39 of the arcuatemember 34.

If for any reason the operator wishes suddenly to release the pressurebetween the wringer rolls, the knob 58 is pushed back toward the centerof the wringer pivotally moving vthe control bar back to the centralposition. During this movement, the latch 36, due to its engagement withthe tongue 38, causes the member 34 to be pivotally moved in thedepression 33. During its pivotal movement, one of the ends of themember 34 engages one of the flanges 35 and pivots the link 22 about thehook 25 to a position releasing the pressure between the wringer rolls.The clearance between the stops 48 is sufllcient to permit the pivotalmovement of the control bar 28 necrolls.

essary to cause release of the pressure on the wringer rolls. A

If the operator washes to .stop the rotation of the wringer rollsWithout releasing the roll pressure, the knob 5D is first moved towardone end of the wringer and is subsequently pushed toward the central orneutral position. Movement of the knob toward either end of the wringerreleases theconnection between the latch 36 and the member 34 andthereby permits the return of the control bar to the central positionwithout releasing the pressure between the rolls. The return of thecontrol bar to the central position moves the clutch 62 to the neutralposition in which the driving connection of the rolls is broken.

In wringers, the emergency release is rarely used since it is intendedto release the pressure between the rolls in emergencies, such as` whenthe operators iingers are caught between the In emergencies it has been`found that the operator will not 'use the infrequently used emergencyrelease, but instead, will use the most frequently used control, whichis the control for stopping and starting the rotation of the rolls. Thisis undesirable since the operators fingers will still be held betweentle rolls even .though the rotation of the rolls is stopped.

From one aspect the knob can be considered as the handle by means ofwhich the operator normally would control the wringer, the handle beingmounted for movement in diverse paths and positioned free of obstructions as to be readily accessible to and invite use by the operator andarranged so that movement of the handle in one of the paths controls therotation of the rolls without operating the emergency release andmovement of the handle in the 'other path operates the emergencyrelease.

In the present construction where the emergency release and the controlof the rotation of the wringer rolls is effected by means of a singlelever, the operator will be more likely to use the emergency release.'I'he wringer is, therefore, safer. The safety of the wringer isincreased by the fact that the operator must perform an extra act, i. e.the moving of the control knob toward one end of the wringer, in .orderto prevent the operation of the emergency release. It is unlikely thatthis act will b e performed i-n an emergency.

The stops III which limit the angular move-l ment ofthe .control bar 28are for the purpose of preventing unintentional operation of theemergency release. When the control bar is' in the neutral position, therolls are stationary and .there is substantiallypno need for suddenlyreleasing thepressure between the rolls. If the operator, when.intending to start the rotation of the rolls, should merely pull thecontrol bar'toward one. side of the wringer without iirst moving theknob 50 toward ione end of the wringer, the latch 36 would still be inengagement with the notch 2l. This wouldcause a `partial pivoting o! themember 34 with the resultant pivoting of the link 23,. The pivotalmovement of the link 22 would cease when the control bar 28 en` gagedone of the stops l0. Inthis position 'the pivot points 20 would still beto the right of a.

center line connecting the pivot points 2|. and 2.5 and the forceexerted by the spring 8 would tend to return the link 22 tothe positionshown in Fig. 1. It would, therefore, be impossible to.

operate the wringer since as soon as the operator released the knob 50the control bar would be returned to the neutral position. To preventWhat I claim as new and desire to'v secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In a wringer, rolls, means for pressing the rolls together, a controlmember for controlling the direction ot rotation of the rolls having ahandle movable with respect thereto biased to a normal position withrespect to the control member, and means operable by the handle onmovement from said normal position for adjusting the' pressure of therolls.

2. In a wringer, rolls, means for pressing the rolls together, a controlmember for controlling the direction of rotationy of the rolls, a handlefor moving the control member comprising a member slidably and rotatablycarried in the control member, means biasing lsaid handle to a normalposition with respect to the control member, and means operablebyrotation of said handle upon slidable movement from said normal positionfor y adjusting the pressure of the rolls.

3. In a wringer, rolls, means for pressing the rolls together, anemergency release for releasing the pressure between the rolls, acontrol member movable to successive positions for controlling therotation of the rolls, connections between the control member and theemergency release eiective in each of the positions of the controlmember whereby the emergency release is operable by the control member,a handle for moving the control member, means. operable by the handlefor selectively breaking the connection between the control member andthe emergency release whereby the control member is selectively movableto a succeeding position without operating the emergency release, andmeans for reestablishinga connection between the control member and theemergency release upon reaching said succeeding position.

4. In a wringer, rolls, means for pressing the rolls together, .anemergency release for releasing the pressure between the rolls, a`control member movable to, successive positions for controlling therotation of the rolls and eiective in each of said positions foroperating the emergency release, a handle for moving vthe control rollstogether, an emergency release for releasing the pressure between therolls, a control member movable to successive positions for controllingthe rotation of the rolls including a handle movably carried thereby,-connections between the control member and the emergency releaseeiective in each of the positions of the control member whereby theemergency release is operable by the control member, -means operable bymovement of the handle relative to the control member for breaking saidconnection tothe emergency release whereby the control member isselectively movable to a succeeding position without loperating theemergency release, and means for reestablishing a connection between thecontrol member and the emergency release upon reaching said succeedingposition.

6. In a wringer, rolls, means for pressing the rolls together, anemergency release for releasing the pressure between the rolls, acontrol bar extending across the top of the wringer and having meansresponsive to movementl thereof transverse to the plane of the rolls ofthe wringer for controlling the rotation of the rolls, a connectionbetween the control bar and the emergency release whereby the emergencyrelease is operated by the control bar, a handle for moving the controlbar and movable'relative thereto, and means operable by movement of thehandle toward one end of the wringer for breaking the connection betweenthe control member and the emergency release.

7. In a wringer, rolls, means for pressing the rolls together, anemergency release for releasing the pressure between the rolls, acontrol bar extending longitudinally of the wringer and having meansresponsive to movement thereof transverse to the plane of the rolls forcontrolling the rotation of the rolls and for operating the emergencyrelease, a handle for moving the control bar and movable relativethereto, and means operable by movement of the handle toward one end ofthe wringer for rendering the control bar ineffective to operate theemergency release.

'8. In a wringer, rolls, means for pressing the rolls together, anemergency release for releasing the pressure between the rolls, acontrol bar having means responsive to movement thereof transverse tothe plane of the rolls of the wringer for controlling the rotation ofthe rolls and for operating the emergency release, a handle for movingthe control bar and rotatable relative thereto, means operable by movingthe handle toward one end of the wringer. for rendering the i 0 controlbar ineffective to operate the release,

and means operable by rotation of the handle for adjusting the pressureof the rolls.

9. In a wringer of the type having, rolls and driving mechanismincluding a part shiftable to positions starting and stopping therotation of the rolls, means for pressing the rolls together, a handlefor shifting said part of the driving mechanism to start and stop therotation o f the rolls, and means operable selectively by the handle foradjusting the pressure of the rolls without shifting said part.

l0. In a wringer of the type having rolls and driving mechanism thereforincluding a party 11. In a wringer of the type having rolls and drivingmechanism therefor and having an emergency release operable to releasethe pressure between the rolls, a single handle by means of which the,operator normally would control the wringer, said handle being mountedfor movement in diverse paths and positioned free of obstruction so asto be readily accessible to and invite use by the operator, meansoperable by movement of the handle in one of said paths for controllingsaid driving mechanism without operating said emergency release, andmeans operable by movement of the handle in another of said paths foroperating said emergency release.

CHARLES KOUNTZE SKINNER.

